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Three ATU academics to work with government and public sector bodies on projects of national importance
Three academics in Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Dr Nuala Carr, Dr Mark Kelly and Dr Muslim Jameel, have been seconded, through Research Ireland’s Public Service Fellowship programme, to work with government departments and public sector bodies on a range of projects of national importance.
Announced this week (10 November) by Research Ireland, the programme will enable the exchange of expertise and fosters public sector innovation, whilst giving researchers valuable insight into government decision-making and policy development. 41 researchers from 10 Higher Education Institutes are partnering with 24 host organisations (list below) on the projects
Dr Nuala Carr, is working with Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland on a project that aims to map out the current state of play of energy co-operatives in Ireland and better understand their prevalence and scale. It will identify organisations fitting the description of an energy cooperative in Ireland and carry out qualitative research with different actors to understand and classify the different models under which they operate and the barriers they face in the current Irish context, including political, technical, social, behavioural and financial barriers.
The research is intended to act as a first step in understanding the current landscape of energy cooperatives in Ireland and highlight the main gaps to be addressed with further research. Expected outputs include a report detailing the project’s approach and findings, including recommendations for potential follow-on research, a short plain English summary or policy brief, and presentations to relevant internal and external stakeholders.
Dr Mark Kelly, is working with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on a project that will assist the EPA to anticipate change, inform policy, and support sustainability transitions through the development of a framework for conducting foresight and horizon scanning for the environment in Ireland. The project will review international approaches to strategic foresight and horizon scanning, undertake foresight activities such as visioning workshops, scenario assessments, Delphi assessments and backcasting exercises, and identify future scenarios for consideration in economic sectors as part of the EPA’s State of the Environment Report planning towards the 2028 publication. Outputs will include detailed reports of findings, set of recommendations regarding the use of foresight in future State of the Environment Reports, general and sector-specific scenario assessments, and detailed briefs on selected economic sectors.
Dr Muslim Jameel Syed, is working with the National Disability Authority on a project that will assess the impact of AI on the lives of persons with disabilities through the lens of Universal Design, with a focus on ensuring that the needs of persons with disabilities are considered through all phases of the design, development, testing and deployment of AI-based systems. The main idea is to produce evidence-based AI policy. The project will examine AI-based systems in the context of the Principles of Universal Design and the AI Act, work with colleagues across the NDA to produce guidance for public bodies, develop a demonstrator AI-based system designed and deployed in accordance with the Principles of Universal Design, and contribute to the development and revision of related standards. Expected outputs include a literature review, guidance to support Universally Designed AI-based systems, demonstrator application(s) highlighting a Universal Design approach to the creation of AI-based systems, and one or more publications in peer-reviewed conferences and/or journals.
Dr Ruth Freeman, Director of Research for Society at Research Ireland, said: “Research Ireland’s Public Service Fellowship programme connects researchers with public sector organisations to turn research expertise into real-world impact. We are pleased to partner with 24 organisations in offering researchers an opportunity to collaborate with public sector leaders. This facilitates the exchange and sharing of expertise towards addressing national and global challenges and supports evidence-informed approaches across the public sector. From improving health and wellbeing to enhancing online safely and food security, these awards will harness the power of collaborative research to make a real difference to communities across Ireland.”
The other HEIs partnering with Government and public sector bodies are University of Galway, Trinity College Dublin, University of Limerick, Dublin City University, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Technological University Dublin, University College Cork, Maynooth University, Technological University of the Shannon.
The 24 Government Departments and Public Service Bodies are the Health Service Executive; Department of Culture, Communications and Sport; Food Safety Authority of Ireland, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland; Department of Children, Disability and Equality; Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment; Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Department of Health, Environmental Protection Agency, National Standards Authority of Ireland, Central Statistics Office, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Department of Education and Youth, Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Forensic Science Ireland, Irish Prison Service, National Council for Special Education, National Cyber Security Centre, National Disability Authority, National Poisons Information Centre, Office of Public Works, State Laboratory, The Electoral Commission.
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